Entry Title: " Glendale Childcare Center"
Company: Marmol Radziner , United States
Category: Professional, Build
Designer(s): Jacqueline Meyer


Entry Description:

The Glendale Childcare Center serves 200 infants, toddlers, and pre-Kindergarten children. One of the goals of the center is to expose both children and adults to the benefits of sustainable green design and architecture, and to raise awareness about energy conservation. The building is a teaching tool, where green building strategies are expressed clearly and energy efficient systems are left exposed as educational opportunities.

The design incorporates recycled and green materials throughout. Its striated rammed earth walls are comprised of cement, earth from local mountains, and crushed brick recycled from site demolition. Rammed earth construction results in durable walls that slow the transmission of heat and sound. The 18-inch thick walls absorb heat during the day and release heat as ambient temperatures cool. Each classroom's nap area is lined with rammed earth, reducing echo and naturally regulating temperature where the children are most sensitive to noise and thermal fluctuations.

Lowering the embodied energy of the materials was a priority. In addition to the rammed earth walls, the Center utilizes a palette of sustainable materials throughout, including composite wood fencing, low VOC paints and adhesives, particle board and recycled paper countertops with no added urea-formaldehyde, and CRI Green Label Plus Certified Carpet Tiles.

The environmentally responsible materials come together in a design that maximizes energy efficiency. Each building is designed to reduce the need for electrical lighting and mechanical cooling. Occupancy sensors in each room help to minimize unnecessary lighting use. Awnings and high, steel-louvered windows bounce natural light into classrooms, maximizing indirect daylight while controlling heat gain and glare. Windows and sliding doors below encourage engagement with the outdoors, and are shaded by deep overhangs that prevent glare even late into the day. High clerestory windows opposite the sliding glass doors allow heat to escape and optimize natural ventilation. East, West, and South-facing windows and doors are double-glazed with low-E glass to balance natural daylight and solar heat gain.

To limit its carbon footprint, the Center encourages alternative transportation methods by offering on-site bicycle storage, changing rooms, and access to two bus lines. The Center further reduces its environmental impact by drawing 12% of its energy from a 30-kW photovoltaic canopy, which also shades the southwest sidewalk just outside the entrance. Finally, the site's landscape and architectural design lead to at least 67% heat island reduction through use of reflective pavement and roofing, shady trees, and deep overhangs on every classroom.
These design features create a colorful, dynamic environment that invites engagement and education. By integrating sustainable design features into the learning environment, our hope is to inspire children to become enlightened decision makers of tomorrow.

Marmol Radziner was established in 1989, launching a unique design-build practice led by architects. Since its nception, the Los Angeles-based firm has developed a reputation for innovative design, research, and precision in applying construction standards.

Today a breadth of projects distinguishes the firm, from intimately scaled residences to large public and community-based projects. Recent projects include the LEED Gold Certified Glendale Childcare Center, a pre k-12 campus for The Accelerated School of Los Angeles, 20 affordable housing units for the Mountain View Mobile Home Park in Santa Monica, and boutiques for Maxfield, Vince, and James Perse. New residential projects include homes in Palos Verdes,
Malibu, Truckee, and Beverly Hills.

Consistent throughout the firms work is an emphasis on the relationship between indoor and outdoor space. Elements and materials are exposed and glass walls extend rooms into the landscape. Often incorporating outdoor living areas, the firms designs embrace Californias natural surroundings, are contextually relevant, and fill spaces with light.

Returning to the tradition of master builder, the firm executes a detailed design process complemented by an equally rigorous attention to construction. A wide range of in-house skills underpins the work of the practice, including
architects, interior and landscape designers, metal fabricators, carpenters, furniture and cabinet-makers, and
construction crew. As both architect and builder, the firm is able to execute projects that become singular expressions of a perfectionist vision.

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